Announcements

The meeting was held at the Brushy Creek Community Center on Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Commissioner Cook addressed issues like the planned traffic lights at the intersection of O’Connor and Great Oaks and the chip seal resurfacing of the streets in the Cat Hollow, Meadows and Woods at Brushy Creek, explaining timeframes for repaving in the future. The residents also got a chance to discuss the new entrance signs to Cat Hollow and removal of trees.  

Cat Hollow HOA Board Members:

Graham Maxwell, President

Susan Ivester, Vice-President

Hillary Nichols, Treasurer

Malcolm Grey, Secretary

David Crow, Director

John Bernard, Director

J.R. Richardson, Director

Floyd Curio, Director

Robin Brown, Director

Oped by Commissioner Cook

Long before Tuesday’s vote of 4-1 in Commissioners Court to end the Taylor-based T. Don Hutto Residential Center contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and CoreCivic, Inc. (formerly Corrections Corporation of America), much has been written in newspapers and more disseminated through social media concerning this facility.

Why do we have it in Williamson County? Well its history is a circuitous, disjointed story.

Jose Orta, past president of the League of United Latin American Citizens Council in Taylor and an advocate for immigrants, said, “This facility sits on land (Welch St.) originally owned cooperatively by Mexican workers before the 1950s. Denied a place in town to park their trucks during cotton season, the workers pooled their wages to purchase the land, which also became a place to congregate and hold fiestas. Part of this land became Hidalgo Park.”

Between the 1980s and 1990s, Orta said the workers were unable to pay the property taxes and donated the land to the local Catholic Church, St John Vianney, with the understanding that the land would be parish property. Orta explained that the Archdiocese actually owned the land, and in 1995, sold part of it for revenue to CoreCivic, a private prison company.

County records show that in 1995, CoreCivic sold the land to a new subsidiary, Taylor Detention Center Corporation, to build a private minimum-security prison. CoreCivic bought back the prison the following year at the end of July. 

In July 1997, the prison became the T. Don Hutto Correctional Facility, named after one of the company’s founders. According to Orta, in March 2004, CoreCivic announced it was closing TDH, citing low inmate demand in the region. This was one of several times TDH would be “mothballed” as CoreCivic sought prisoners to house.

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, Juneteenth recognizes that on June 19, 1865, almost three years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston the freedom of all slaves throughout Texas, which read in part: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free;” and

WHEREAS, this announcement ended slavery in Texas; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest African American holiday, and in 1980, Texas established Juneteenth as a state holiday; and

WHEREAS, this Commissioners Court recognizes that the early Black inhabitants of Williamson County were brought here as slaves; and

WHEREAS, in the 153 years since General Granger’s Proclamation, the struggle against bigotry, hate, and violence continues today; and

WHEREAS, we believe that peace, love, and respect for one another and an emphasis on historical accuracy can overcome deep-seated mistrust and move our society towards a goal of a more inclusive and equitable community;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAMED, that the Williamson County Commissioners Court hereby recognizes and proclaims, June 19, 2018 as:

“JUNETEENTH – TEXAS EMANCIPATION DAY”

in Williamson County, and encourages all Williamson County employees and residents to learn more about Juneteenth and support the noble purpose of this day.

The Party was held at the Round Rock Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Commissioner Cook served as the honorary public official at the Army's family-friendly 243rd Birthday Bash! 

The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of expert riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. For more on the history of the U.S. Army, click here: https://history.army.mil/html/faq/birth.html

Billions in higher property taxes are hurting Texans. You DESERVE to know why.

It's no secret that Texas relies on property taxpayers as their source of funding for more and more each year...

When the state does not fund its mandates, property taxpayers are stuck with the bill.

Did you know?

Property taxpayer protections can be put in the Texas Constitution.

A proposed amendment, HJR 73 by Rep. DeWayne Burns, passed the House on a vote of 127-18. Despite overwhelming bipartisan support, it stalled in the state Senate, never getting a hearing.

Similar measures already protect taxpayers in many other states.

If the Legislature acts, voters will get the chance to stop the Legislature's practice of passing costs on to homeowners.

If the Legislature believes something is important, shouldn't they pay for it? Homeowners shouldn't be treated like the state's no-limit credit card.

We can have a responsible, pay-as-you-go state government. Ask the Texas Legislature to give voters a voice in ending unfunded mandates!

Unfunded Mandates:

• Drive up your property tax bill.
• Drive up the size and cost of county government.
• Remove accountability from government spending.
• Cost Texans billions of dollars.
• Force property tax increases that strain YOUR budget.

Take action below to protect property taxpayers:

http://protectpropertytaxpayers.org/